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Germany should send border police to back up Austrian police as they control their border with Italy in a bid to prevent migrants and refugees moving north through Europe, the German Transport Minister said on Tuesday.

"Germany could make a contribution and support Austria's efforts at the Brenner Pass [which connects Italy with Austria] with personnel," Transport Minister Alexander Dobrindt told the Münchener Merkur.

Austria has long complained that Germany is reaping the benefit of its agreement with western Balkan nations to close borders all along what became the main refugee route in 2015 from Greece to Germany and points further north.

Numbers of refugees arriving in Germany have slowed to a trickle in recent weeks without Chancellor Angela Merkel having to renege on her promise not to close the Federal Republic's borders.